On the Theory of Organizational Path Dependence: Clarifications, Replies to Objections, and Extensions

Abstract

This article reflects on our article of 2009, “Organizational path dependence: Opening the black box,” which received the Academy of Management Review ’s Decade Award in 2019. We review how the article has been used in subsequent research, discuss the criticism it has elicited, and reexamine our original propositions in light of theoretical insights gained since the text’s publication. We also explore the linkages to related concepts, such as complexity, hierarchy, agency, and expansion. We conclude by outlining new avenues for research on and enhancing the theory of organizational path dependence.